Oral Answers to Questions — Public Building and Works – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 18 February 1964.
Mr William Small
, Glasgow Scotstoun
12:00,
18 February 1964
asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will state the number of fully-qualified geologists in his Department.
Mr Richard Sharples
, Sutton and Cheam
We do not employ fully qualified geologists as such, but several scientists employed in soil engineering have university degrees in science, which include geology either as a main or subsidiary subject.
Mr William Small
, Glasgow Scotstoun
Since there is a reservoir of technical skill in the Department, has the hon. Gentleman's Minister considered forming a link between a study group and a geological survey preceding the construction of a Channel Tunnel?
Mr Richard Sharples
, Sutton and Cheam
I should certainly like to examine what the hon. Gentleman says before I reply to it.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
